Orthodox Christians observe Dormition of the Mother of God

Eastern Orthodox Christians observe today, August 28, the Dormition of the Mother of God. This is the last of twelve Great Feasts, as the Church calendar begins on September 1/14. Priest Octavian Mosin from the Meeting of the Lord Church told Info-Prim Neo that the Mother of God enjoyed special observation from the Orthodox Christian Church because she was “More honorable than the cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim”, as reads the hymn. “She is the one through whom the Creation was restored. If Eve brought the sin into the world, then the Mother of God is sometimes called the second Eve, who brought the Messiah into this world. Thus, the woman’s dignity is restored and the ever-virgin and ever-praying Mother of God is the one who mediates between Her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and our daily needs”, declared the priest. There are four great holidays dedicated to the Mother of God, beginning with Her Nativity, followed by Her Entrance into the Temple, the Annunciation and the Dormition. “The folk call her Saint Mary the Great, because the event of her passing away to God is truly special. We know that God took Her into His Kingdom and She is always near Him, praying and taking care of our needs”, said Octavian Mosin. This holiday is much celebrated and the chants dedicated to it are special, as are the traditions related to it. In the evening of August 27, the burial service of the Dormition of Mother of God is officiated and the Epitaphios embroidered with Her face asleep, is carried in procession around the church. The Dormition ends a 14-day fast and many churchgoers receive the Eucharist. On the same day, the Akathist of the Dormition is chanted and all the akathists to the Mother of God start being chanted daily.